Seventh Annual Goddess Festival!

March 20-29 at OMNI

OMNI Center

Statement on the Shooting of Trayvon Martin and Gun Violence

July 18, 2013

The OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, & Ecology strongly condemns the horrific killing of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of his murderer George Zimmerman which was allowed by the very flawed “Stand your Ground” law.

This senseless murder, the irresponsible actions from law enforcement, and the horrendous decision by the jury are testimony to the violence that people of color continue to face every single day. 31 states currently have “Shoot First” laws. In these states, Caucasians who kill African Americans are 354% more likely to have charges dropped than when Caucasians kill other Caucasians. We demand those in Florida with legislative power take the adequate measures to dismantle their “Stand Your Ground” law. We demand those in public office in Arkansas and the rest of the nation to end these “Shoot First” laws that allow vigilantes to target anyone they deem suspicious.

The OMNI Center has always stood against racial violence, injustice and oppression, whether it is in the form of discrimination against African Americans and other people of color, the persecution of Muslims after 9/11, or the alienation and denial of basic human rights to our immigrant brothers & sisters. The deliberate racism towards people of color serves to undermine our common struggle for peace and justice. The Florida law that allowed Zimmerman to be declared “not guilty” sets a very dangerous precedent and gives new legal protection to open acts of racial violence. A vigilante who takes the life of an innocent person does not deserve to walk away but rather should be behind bars. We ask our members and the community to take action and organize to demand justice for Trayvon Martin and all the innocent people who have fallen victims to “Shoot First” laws, vigilantes, and law enforcement.

You can start taking action by signing the petition that the NAACP has initiated to demand that the U.S. Department of Justice of a Civil Rights case against Zimmerman.